Telescoping window tension rods

ABSTRACT

A window rod includes first, second and third telescoping tubes; a first locking mechanism configured to lock the first and second tubes in a fixed axially position with respect to each other; a second locking mechanism configured to lock the second and third tubes in a fixed axially position with respect to each other; a first axially adjustable finial coupled to a first end of the first tube; and a first rotatable contact member coupled to the first axially adjustable finial.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/723,266, filed Dec. 21, 2012, which is aContinuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/177,129,filed Jul. 6, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/361,735 filed Jul. 6, 2010, all of which areincorporated herein by reference. This application also claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/768,999,filed Feb. 25, 2013, and titled “Telescoping Window Tension Rods”, whichis incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to window rods.

BACKGROUND

Telescoping window tension rods in the market today are limited tohaving a maximum extendable range slightly less than double the lengthof the outer tube, e.g., double the outer tube length, minus about 6inches in length to provide for the overlapping tubes. Thus, a 30 inchouter tube can only extend to about 54 or 56 inches.

There is a need for a window rod that can be extended over a largerrange of possible lengths.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present invention provides a window rod that includesfirst, second and third telescoping tubes; a first locking mechanismconfigured to lock the first and second tubes in a fixed axiallyposition with respect to each other; a second locking mechanismconfigured to lock the second and third tubes in a fixed axiallyposition with respect to each other; a first axially adjustable finialcoupled to a first end of the first tube; and a first rotatable contactmember coupled to the first axially adjustable finial.

This and other aspects of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic representation of a window rod in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is an end view of one of the window rod sections of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is an end view of one of the window rod sections of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a side view of a finial of a window rod in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an isometric view of the finial of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is another isometric view of the finial of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a finial in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view and FIG. 6 is an end view of a finial inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view, and FIG. 8 is an end view, showing theopposite side of the finial of FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are end views, and FIG. 11 is a side view, of a retainerthat may be installed in a finial in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are end views, and FIG. 14 is a side view, of arotatable contact disk that may be mounted on a finial in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view illustrating the rotatable contact diskof FIGS. 12-14 rotatably mounted on the retainer of FIGS. 9-11.

FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of the end portion of a finialincluding a rotatable contact disk in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view, of a torsional locking mechanism for securingthe position of one telescoping tube with respect to another telescopingtube in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of the locking cam sleeve of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an end view of a locking cam sleeve.

FIG. 20 is an end view of a locking cam sleeve.

FIG. 21 is an isometric view of the locking cam sleeve of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the locking cam sleeve of FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a portion of a torsional locking mechanism.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are isometric views of the locking cam sleeve of FIG.23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is a side view of a telescoping window tension rod 10 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The rod includesthree telescoping tubes 11, 12 and 13 of small, medium and largediameters respectively. Locking mechanisms 14 and 15 are providedbetween the small and medium tube, and between the medium and largetube. Axially adjustable finials 16 and 20 are provided at opposite endsof the rod 10. The finials are configured to make contact with supportsurfaces, such as opposing walls of a shower stall or other opening.

FIG. 1B is an end view of tube 13 of FIG. 1A. Tube 13 is shown toinclude a threaded opening 17 in an end of tube 13. The opening ispositioned along a central axis of the tube 13.

FIG. 1C is an end view of tube 11 of FIG. 1A. Tube 11 is shown toinclude a threaded opening 19 in an end of the tube 11. The opening ispositioned along a central axis of the tube 11.

In one embodiment of the window rod of FIG. 1A, the tubes can have alength of about 26 inches, tube 13 can have an outer diameter of about ¾inch, tube 12 can have an outer diameter of about ⅝ inch, and tube 11can have an outer diameter of about ½ inch. The telescoping windowtension rod allows for greater extension that is more than double thelength of the outer tube, while providing greater strength than existingspring rods currently in the market. The added unit of tubing createsextra extension that is not possible with conventional spring tensionrods.

As more fully described below, each of the finials has a contact member,which can be disk-shaped, and which is configured to contact asupporting surface, such as a wall of a bath or shower stall.

FIG. 2A illustrates an axially adjustable finial 20 in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the finialincludes a threaded stud or bolt 21 that is connected to the body 22such that rotation of the body causes rotation of the stud. The stud isconfigured to screw into the threaded opening 17 at the end of tube 13shown in FIG. 1B. Rotation of the finial body causes rotation of thestud, causing the stud and finial to move with respect to the tube in adirection along the central axis of the tube. While FIG. 2A shows afinial having a substantially spherical body, it should be understoodthat finals having other shapes may be used in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 2B is an isometric view of the finial of FIG. 2A. As shown in FIGS.2A and 2B, a rotatable contact member in the form of a resilient disk 50is provided on the finial. FIG. 3 is another isometric view of thefinial of FIG. 2A. In FIG. 3, the stud is shown to be positioned in arecess 200. The sidewall 202 of the recess is configured to bepositioned over a portion of the end of the tube 13. Thus the finial canmove axially with respect to the tube without exposing the stud. Finial16 of FIG. 1A can be similar to the finial illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2Band 2C. Embodiments of the window rod can have a single adjustablefinial at one end or two adjustable finials at opposite ends.

To install the window rod, the telescoping tubes can be moved withrespect to each other until the ends of the finials are adjacent to twoopposing support surfaces. Then the rods can be rotated with respect toeach other to engage the locking mechanisms, thereby preventing movementof the rods with respect to each other in the axial direction. Then thelength of the window rod can be further adjusted by rotating the axiallyadjustable finial(s) to force the rotatable contact disk 50 against thesupport surface. Because the contact disk can rotate with respect to thebody of the finial, once the contact disk engages the support surface,it remains stationary with respect to the support surface, even as thebody of the adjustable finial is rotated. This prevents walking of thecontact disk as the window rod is tightened between the supportsurfaces.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the components of one embodiment ofthe finial 20. The adjustable finial 20 includes a body 22 having anopening 23 for receiving an end of the pole, a threaded bolt 30, aretainer 40, and a rotatable contact disk 50. The bolt 30 includes ahead 32 and threaded portion 34. Although a hex-head bolt is shown, itis to be understood that any other suitable bolt or mechanical fastenerdesign may be used in accordance with the present invention. As morefully described below, the bolt 30 is held in a stationary position inrelation to the finial body 22. The various components of the finial 20may be made of any suitable materials such as plastic, metal and thelike. For example, the finial body 22 may be made of polypropylene andthe bolt 30 may be made of metal. The interior 23 is shaped to receivethe elements that allow rotation of the contact disk. The body canrotate with respect to the tube, but the interior surface of the bodycan also form a seal with the tube.

Alternative coupling arrangements can include a threaded portionintegrally formed in an interior surface of the finial 20 with thethreaded portion engaging a threaded portion of the rod, or the use of athreaded nut or threaded hole in the finial 20 and a threaded shaftextending from the end of the tube 11. However, it is to be understoodthat any other suitable arrangement for coupling the adjustable finialto the pole may be used in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate details of the finial body 22 of the adjustablefinial 20. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the outermost end of the finial body 22,while FIGS. 7 and 8 show the opposite end of the finial body 22 that islocated adjacent to the pole 11 when the caddy is assembled. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, a hexagonal bolt head holder 24 in the form of a recessedhexagonal pocket is provided at the center of the finial body 22. Theholder 24 includes a central opening 25 through which the threadedportion 34 of the bolt 30 passes. Support arms 26 extend between theinterior surface of the generally cylindrical finial body 22 to theexterior surface of the holder 24. Three openings 27 are provided incorresponding sides of the hexagonal holder 24 to provide engagementedges for the finger clips 44 of the retainer 40, shown in FIG. 4. Afterthe head 34 of the bolt 30 is mounted inside the hexagonal holder 24,the retainer 40 is inserted through the outside end of the finial body22 to thereby lock the bolt 30 in place. This is accomplished by thefinger clips 44, wherein the arms 45 flex radially outward as theretainer 40 is inserted in the finial body 22 until the locking tabs 46of the finger clips 44 snap into place in the openings 27 for engagementwith the holder 24. In this manner, the retainer 40 is held in astationary position and does not rotate or move in an axial directionwith respect to the finial body 22.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 9-11, the retainer 40 includes agenerally disk-shaped cylindrical body 42 with three finger clips 44extending from one surface thereof. Each finger clip 44 includes aflexible arm 45 and a locking tab 46. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 4and 10, an annular projection with a central hole 48 is located at thecenter of the finial body 22. The annular projection and hole 48 areused to rotatably mount the end disk 50 thereon, as more fully describedbelow.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 12-14, the rotatable end disk 50 includes asupport disk 52 made of relatively rigid material such as plastic or anyother suitable material. For example, the support disk 52 may be made ofpolypropylene, polyethylene or the like. A mounting assembly 54 includestwo flexible mounting fingers 56 that extend from the surface of thesupport disk 52. An elastomeric contact disk 58 is secured to onesurface of the support disk 52 by any suitable means such as adhesive.The elastomeric contact disk may be made of any suitable elastomericmaterial such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, foam, resilientpolymers and the like. The contact disk 58 may have a relatively highfriction coefficient to help secure the rod 10 in position when it isinstalled in a window opening or a bath or shower stall.

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view illustrating the rotatable mountingarrangement of the end disk 50 on the retainer 40. In the position shownin FIG. 15, the flexible mounting fingers 56 of the end disk 50 havebeen inserted into the central hole 48 of the retainer 40 with their endtabs engaging the edge of the annular projection. In this position, theinterior surface of the support disk 52 contacts the exterior surface ofthe retainer body 42. However, the end disk 50 is rotatable around itscentral axis with respect to the retainer 40 because the flexiblemounting fingers 56 of the mounting assembly 54 have a sufficienttolerance with respect to the central hole 48 of the annular projectionof the retainer 40, e.g., a clearance space is provided between theinner surface of the central hole 48 and the fingers 56, or any contactbetween the inner surface of the hole 48 and fingers 56 is of relativelyminor force which permits the end disk to rotate. Thus, while therotatable end disk 50 may be snap-fit onto the retainer 40, the fit issuch that the end disk 50 is still able to rotate with respect to theretainer 40. As will be appreciated, when the assembled retainer 40 androtatable end disk 50 as shown in FIG. 15 are installed inside thefinial body 22, the retainer 40 is held in a stationary position inrelation to the finial body 22 while the end disk 50 is free to rotatewith respect to the finial body 22.

FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of the end portion of another finial 60that may be mounted on the end of the rod 10 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The finial 60 includes a generallycylindrical body 62 having an elastomeric contact disk 64 mountedthereon. The elastomeric contact disk 64 may be held in a stationaryposition in relation to the body 62. However, in a preferred embodiment,the elastomeric contact disk 64 is rotatable in relation to the body 62of the finial 60. A mounting projection 66 extends from the innersurface of the contact disk 64. A mounting disk 68 having a centralmounting hole 69 is secured to the body 62 of the finial 60. Sufficienttolerance may be provided between the cylindrical outer surface of themounting projection 66 and the mounting hole 69 such that the contactdisk 64 is free to rotate with respect to the body 62 of the stationaryfinial 60. The elastomeric contact disk 64 may be made of any suitablematerial such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, foam, resilientpolymers and the like. The contact disk 64 may have a relative highfriction coefficient to help secure the rod 10 in position when it isinstalled.

The inner gripper systems for securing the small, medium and large tubesin relation to each other may be similar to the twist-to-lock camsystems shown in FIGS. 7-16 and described in U.S. application Ser. No.13/177,129 and Ser. No. 13/723,266, which are incorporated herein byreference.

In other embodiments, the adjustable finial may be similar to thoseshown in FIGS. 17-20 and described in U.S. application Ser. No.13/177,129 and Ser. No. 13/723,266.

FIG. 17 is a side view of portions of the tube 11 of the window rod ofFIG. 1. The window rod includes a first tube 12 (also called astationary tube) and a second tube 11 (also called a telescoping tube)having a slightly smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of thefirst tube 12. The telescoping tube 11 is axially movable with respectto the first tube 12. The first and second rods may be made of anysuitable material, such as metal or the like. A substantiallycylindrical bushing 76 made of plastic or other suitable material ispartially inserted inside the end of the first tube 12 with a portionextending therefrom and surrounding the telescoping tube 11. The bushingis configured to make contact with the internal surface of the tube 12and is positioned over a cam such that when the tube 11 is rotated, thebushing is forced against the internal surface of tube 12 and the axialpositions of rods 12 and 11 are locked with respect to each other.

FIG. 17 illustrates components of a torsional locking mechanism 71 forlocking the stationary tube 12 and telescoping tube 11 together in adesired position in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Thetorsional locking mechanism 71 mounted on the end of the telescopingtube 11 is configured to be positioned inside the stationary tube 12when the pole 11 is assembled. The torsional locking mechanism 71includes a locking cam head 74 that is offset with respect to thecentral axis of the tube. A bushing 90 (also called a cam lockingsleeve) is positioned on the cam head between an annular flange 80 and asupport flange 86. The bushing has a varying thickness with a relativelythin end 76 and a relatively thick end 97. When the locking mechanism isinserted in tube 12, rotation of the cam head forces the bushing intothe internal surface of tube 12 and thereby fixes the axial position oftube 12 with respect to tube 11.

The locking cam head 74 includes the annular flange 80 and an end flange86. The locking head 74 includes two cam surfaces 82 extending betweenthe annular flange 80 and end flange 86 having non-circular, helical orspiral surfaces. One of the cam surfaces 82 is shown in each of FIG. 17,with the other cam surface located 180° around the circumference of thelocking head 74. The locking head 74 includes two stop surfaces 84extending between the annular flange 80 and end flange 86. Each stopsurface 84 lies substantially in a plane extending radially outward fromthe central axis of the locking head 74 and defining an interruption ortransition between each of the cam surfaces 82.

As shown in FIG. 17, a locking cam sleeve 90 is mounted on the lockinghead 74 between the annular flange 80 and end flange 86. As shown inFIGS. 18 and 19, the locking cam sleeve 90 includes two cam members 92,each of which has an inner cam surface 94, an outer contact surface 96and a stop edge 97. The cam members 92 are connected together by a thinweb 98. The locking cam sleeve 90 may be made of any suitable flexibleor elastomeric material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber,flexible plastic or the like. The locking cam sleeve 90 preferably has arelatively high friction coefficient in order to help secure thetelescoping tube 11 in a selected axial position with respect to thestationary tube 12, as more fully described below.

The torsional locking mechanism 71 operates as follows. The locking camsleeve 90 is initially located in a radially retracted position on thelocking cam head 74 in which the stop edges 97 of the sleeve 90 are incontact or adjacent to the corresponding stop surfaces 84 of the lockinghead 74. The thicker portions of the cam members 92 are adjacent to theradially recessed portion of the cam surfaces 82. In this radiallyretracted position, the telescoping tube 11 is free to move axially withrespect to the stationary tube 12.

During installation, the telescoping tube 11 is extended from thestationary tube 12 to a desired position in which the rotatable end disk19 and stationary finial 18 are in initial contact positions against thewindow walls, or the bath or shower stall walls. In this position, thetelescoping tube 11 is then twisted around its longitudinal axis, whichrotates the locking mechanism inside the stationary tube 12. Upon such atwisting motion, the outer contact surfaces 96 of the locking cam sleeve90 contact the inner surface of the stationary tube 12 and frictionalforces therebetween hold the locking cam sleeve 90 in a stationaryposition with respect to the stationary tube 12, i.e., the locking camsleeve 90 does not rotate inside the tube 12 with the remainder of thetorsional locking mechanism. As the locking cam head 74 rotates insidethe stationary tube 12 with the locking cam sleeve 90 remaining inposition, the inner cam surfaces 94 of the locking cam sleeve 90 slidein a generally circumferential direction on the cam surfaces 82 of thelocking cam head 74. Due to this relative movement, the cam members 92move radially outward and press against the inner surface of thestationary tube 12 with sufficient force to lock the cam head 74 intoposition within the stationary tube 12. Thus, the telescoping tube 11and stationary tube 12 are held in position with respect to each other.

With the torsional locking mechanism 71 in the locked position, theadjustable finial 20 may be rotated with respect to the telescoping tube11, thereby extending the adjustable finial 20 into the installedposition in which the pole 11 is securely mounted between the supportingsurfaces of the bath or shower stall.

FIG. 20 is an end view of another locking cam sleeve 100. FIG. 21 is anisometric view of the locking cam sleeve of FIG. 20. FIG. 22 is anelevation view of the locking cam sleeve of FIG. 20. The flexiblelocking cam sleeve 100 includes a slit 102 between ends 104 and 106.When the ends 104 and 106 are pushed together to touch each other, thelocking sleeve has a generally cylindrical outer surface 108 and isshaped to define a generally cylindrical opening 110 having an axis 112that is offset from an axis 114 of the generally cylindrical outersurface 108. The flexible locking cam sleeve 100 includes two camportions 116, 118, each of which has an inner cam surface 120, 122, anouter contact surface 124, 126. The cam portions 116, 118 are connectedtogether by a thin web 128. The end 130 shown in FIG. 20 forms a planarsurface.

As shown in FIG. 21, at least a part of cam portion 116 includes araised portion 132 that forms a stop 134. Cam portion 118 includes araised portion 136 that forms a stop 138. The space 140 between stops134 and 138 is recessed with respect to the top surfaces 142, 144 ofraised portions 132 and 136. In addition, top surfaces 142 and 144 liein a common plane. As shown in FIG. 22, that width 146 of cam portion116 is larger than the width 148 of cam portion 118. The locking camsleeve 100 may be made of any suitable flexible or elastomeric materialsuch as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, flexible plastic or the like.The locking cam sleeve 100 preferably has a relatively high frictioncoefficient in order to help secure the telescoping tube 14 in aselected axial position with respect to the stationary tube 12, as morefully described below.

FIG. 23 is a side view of elements of another torsional lockingmechanism. FIG. 23 shows a cylindrical pin 150 having a central axis 152that is offset from a central axis 154 of tube 11. The pin extendsbetween a hub 156 and a disk 158. The outside surfaces of hub 156 anddisk 158 lie on a common cylinder. The hub includes a portion, not shownin this view, that extends into tube 11 and is secured in the tube 11by, for example, indents (or spot welds) 160, 162. A tab 164 extendsfrom the hub. Tab 164 extends in a radial direction from the pin 150.When the locking cam sleeve 100 is positioned on the pin 150, the tab164 is positioned in a space 140 between the stops 134 and 138. Thewidth of the disk 158 has a slight taper such that the portion 166 ofthe disk opposite the tab is thicker than the rest of the disk. Thus thedistance between that portion 166 of the disk and the hub is smallerthan the distance between the bottom portion 168 of the disk and thehub. This feature ensures engagement of the tab and the stops on thelocking cam sleeve.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are isometric views, of a locking mechanism 170 thatincludes the elements of FIGS. 20-23. FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate atorsional locking mechanism 170 for locking the stationary tube 12 andtelescoping tube 11 together in a desired position in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Although not shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, thetorsional locking mechanism 170 mounted on the end of the telescopingtube 11 is positioned inside the stationary tube 12 when the pole 11 isassembled. FIG. 24 shows the locking mechanism with a first surface 172of tab 164 adjacent to stop 134 on the locking sleeve. In this position,the outer surface 108 of the locking cam sleeve is positioned close tothe cylinder containing the hub and disk such that the outer surface 108slidably engages the inner surface of tube 12. FIG. 25 shows the lockingmechanism with a second surface 174 of tab 164 adjacent to stop 138 onthe locking sleeve. In this position, the outer surface 108 of thelocking cam sleeve is forced outward such that the outer surface 108securely engages the inner surface of tube 102.

The torsional locking mechanism 170 operates as follows. The locking camsleeve 100 is initially located in a radially retracted position on thelocking cam head 176 in which the stop 134 of the sleeve 100 is incontact with or adjacent to the first surface 172 of tab 164. In thisradially retracted position, the telescoping tube 14 is free to moveaxially with respect to the stationary tube 12.

During installation, the telescoping tubes are extended to a desiredposition in which the rotatable contact disks of the finials are ininitial contact positions against the support surfaces (e.g., the bathor shower stall walls). In this position, the telescoping tubes are thentwisted around their longitudinal axis, which rotates the locking cammechanism 170 inside another one of the telescoping tubes. Upon such atwisting motion, the outer contact surface 108 of the locking cam sleeve100 contacts the inner surface of the tube and frictional forcestherebetween hold the locking cam sleeve 100 in a stationary positionwith respect to the outer tube, i.e., the locking cam sleeve 100 doesnot rotate inside the tube with the remainder of the torsional lockingmechanism 170. Thus, the telescoping tubes are held in position withrespect to each other.

The window rods of the present invention overcome the cumbersomeinstallation associated with conventional window rods. The rotatable enddisk 50 on the adjustable finial 20 prevents the rod from walking on thewall during installation. The internal torsional locking mechanism 71provides improved stability.

The components of the window rods may be made of any suitable materials,such as metals and/or plastics.

Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been describedabove for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilledin the art that numerous variations of the details of the presentinvention may be made without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A window rod comprising: first, second and thirdtelescoping tubes; a first locking mechanism configured to lock thefirst and second tubes in a fixed axially position with respect to eachother; a second locking mechanism configured to lock the second andthird tubes in a fixed axially position with respect to each other; afirst axially adjustable finial coupled to a first end of the firsttube; and a first rotatable contact member coupled to the first axiallyadjustable finial.
 2. The window rod of claim 1, further comprising: afirst threaded opening positioned along a central axis of the firsttube; and a first threaded stud connected to a body of the first finialand configured to engage the first threaded opening.
 3. The window rodof claim 2, wherein: the first threaded stud is positioned in a recessin the body of the first finial with a side wall of the recess beingconfigured to slide over the first end of the first tube, such that thefirst threaded stud is not visible when the first threaded stud isengaged with threads in the first threaded opening.
 4. The window rod ofclaim 2, wherein: a diameter of the body of the first finial is largerthan an outer diameter of the first tube.
 5. The window rod of claim 1,further comprising: a second axially adjustable finial coupled to afirst end of the third tube; and a second rotatable contact membercoupled to the first axially adjustable finial.
 6. The window rod ofclaim 3, further comprising: a second threaded opening positioned alonga central axis of the first tube; and a second threaded stud connectedto a body of the second finial and configured to engage the secondthreaded opening.
 7. The window rod of claim 6, wherein: the secondthreaded stud is positioned in a recess in the body of the second finialwith a side wall of the recess being configured to slide over the firstend of the second tube, such that the second threaded stud is notvisible when the second threaded stud is engaged with threads in thesecond threaded opening.
 8. The window rod of claim 6, wherein: adiameter of the body of the second finial is larger than an outerdiameter of the second tube.